Former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has reversed his earlier decision to establish his own political party.
Previous report suggests that the legal practitioner was contemplating leaving the NPP due to being excluded from a role in the 2024 campaign.
Expressing his frustration at being overlooked after years of service, he initially declared his intention to part ways with the party.
However, in a recent interview with OKAY FM in Accra, Nana Obiri Boahen stated, “I have rescinded my decision to leave the party. I must say that it’s not everything I can discuss on air.”
Simultaneously, Nana Obiri Boahen has been appointed as a co-chair of the local government subcommittee within the political party’s manifesto committee.
Prior to the NPP flagbearer race, Nana Obiri Boahen declared that his primary goal was to see Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia elected as the party’s presidential candidate for 2024.
Describing himself as the captain of the Bawumia campaign train, Nana Obiri Boahen expressed disappointment when his name did not appear in the party’s national campaign team and manifesto committee.
Following the announcement of the members comprising Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign manifesto committee, Nana Obiri Boahen, a former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), revealed his intentions to resign from the party.
In a widely circulated audio recording, the NPP stalwart lamented feeling neglected by the party since it assumed power in 2017. He further accused Dr. Bawumia of failing to acknowledge his support for his flagbearer bid.
However, following his public outburst, Nana Obiri Boahen was named co-chair of the manifesto sub-committee on local government. Subsequently, he rescinded his decision to quit the NPP.
According to a report by Wontumionline.com, Obiri Boahen reversed his decision to leave the NPP after a conversation with Dr. Bawumia. In the reported conversation, Dr. Bawumia pleaded with him not to abandon him and his campaign.
“Bawumia called me and he asked me you have brought your train and I am the passenger so why are you leaving me behind,” the report quoted the former deputy general secretary as saying.
Director of communications for Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign team, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has rejected claims that Nana Obiri Boahen, former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is leaving the party.
Mr Aboagye emphasized that Obiri Boahen is a key member of Bawumia’s campaign team and serves as the co-chairman of the local government manifesto committee.
During an interview on Neat FM on February 26, 2024, the NPP communicator expressed surprise at the assertions, stating that he had personally spoken to Obiri Boahen, who assured him of his continued commitment to the party.
“Nana Obiri Boahen is the chairman of the local government committee manifesto committee, so I am surprised.
“I don’t think there is any issue. I even spoke to him yesterday evening in terms of some of the things that the committee has proposed. I don’t know what really triggered his reaction but I can tell you that Nana Obiri Boahen is not going anywhere, he is not going to form his party anywhere.
“He is part of the party; he is part of the campaign. He is a very integral part of Bawumia’s campaign,” Mr Aboagye said.
The clarification from Dennis Miracles Aboagye comes in response to a recent audio by Nana Obiri Boahen, in which he announced his intention to break away from the NPP and form a new party. Boahen cited feeling neglected by the party, especially after being left out of Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s presidential campaign team.
In the viral audio, Mr Boahen expressed his frustration with what he described as historic neglect, stating that it had significantly impacted him.
“We won’t look on for it (the party) to be destroyed. I think the die is cast; we must also form a political party,” he told a radio show host in the viral clip.
Asked how he was left out of the NPP campaign team released recently, he responded: “It shows my efforts are not recognised, so, now I am going to form my own party.
“I won’t listen to anyone; no one will convince me otherwise. At this stage, the battle lines are drawn, and I won’t listen to anyone. I am going to form mine,” he emphasised.
According to him, several people had called him and promised to bankroll his new adventure, “and I have accepted it; I am going away. They think I am insignificant, but we shall see.”
Former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen has strongly criticized the leadership of outgoing Liberian president and former footballer, George Weah, labelling it as “disgraceful.”
Boahen expressed his disappointment with Weah’s presidency, citing a lack of good leadership as a significant factor in his recent electoral defeat.
In an interview on Angel FM, Boahen asserted, “Oppong Weah is a big disgrace, he disappointed everybody serious about politics in West Africa.”
He criticised Weah for squandering his opportunity as president, accusing him of opting for leisure, such as travelling to Qatar to watch football, instead of focusing on governance.
Boahen drew a comparison with other political figures, stating, “Buhari who stayed outside his country for over a month was sick, George Weah was not sick.”
He further remarked that if a similar situation occurred with Nigerian politician Tinubu, it would be more understandable due to his health condition.
George Weah conceded defeat on Friday, November 17, 2023, to former Liberian Vice President Joseph Bokai after a closely contested presidential race.
Weah’s presidency, which began in 2018, has been marred by allegations of corruption and a perceived lack of development.
Boahen urged African politicians to learn from Weah’s defeat, emphasizing the need to govern responsibly and prioritize the interests of the people. He cited the recent political change in Equatorial Guinea, although inaccurately, as an example of the consequences of ruling without regard for the populace.
“Africans are now discerning. If you rule anyhow, why won’t they vote against you? Even this one, the election was rigged. He would have lost terribly,” Boahen stated, emphasizing the growing awareness among African voters.
Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has called for the expulsion of Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, from the party.
Mr Obiri Boahen argued that the MP displayed a lack of professionalism and discipline as a politician when she held the party hostage.
He advised the NPP to dismiss her apology and attempts to reconcile with her constituency and party members and instead take the step of expelling her.
“In my opinion, anywhere you find yourself, there must be discipline. People have served the party but have not benefited, but for you, Adwoa Safo, you are an NPP member, you have become an MP, Deputy Minister and a Minister of State and as a party, we need your assistance in taking decisions to vote.”
“You kept saying you won’t come, the party pleaded, you insisted you won’t come, then you’re telling me that Adwoa Safo has pleaded for her actions and so we should do what? Should they accept her so that she returns to parliament again?”
“Impossible! We need to be disciplined. If you’re a politician and you are not disciplined, then there will be problems for you,” he stated.
During an interview on Okay FM, Mr. Boahen expressed his preference for the NPP to disregard Adwoa Safo and risk losing the Dome Kwabenya seat rather than forgiving and readmitting her to the party.
His statement came in the wake of Adwoa Safo’s public apology to her constituents and party members the previous week regarding her extended absence from parliament in 2022, which had sparked a nationwide debate.
The former Gender Minister acknowledged that her absence, although detrimental to the party, was not intentional. She clarified that her actions were a result of personal challenges she faced within her family during that period.
A private legal practitioner, Nana Obiri Boahen, has filed a writ at the Sunyani High Court, praying the court to commit the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare and eight other officers of the service to prison.
They include the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Joseph Gyamerah Oklu, the Bono Regional Police Commander, one Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gyasi and Chief Inspector Mohammed Mustapha.
The rest are DSP Peter Owusu, Chief Superintendent Solomon Korli, as well as Police Officers Alhaji Shaibu, Bernard Asare and Emmanuel Kpodo.
At its sitting on Tuesday, the Court presided by Justice Harry Acheampong Poku (vacation judge) granted a “motion on notice for contempt filed by the applicant by way of substituted service by posting copies at the notices of the High Court, the Ghana Police Service headquarters and the Bono Regional Police Command.”
The plaintiff prayed the court to commit the respondents to prison for their “contumacious, gross disrespect of law and order to the decision or orders contained in the judgment of a circuit court,” delivered on July 28, 2022, by Justice Sylvester Nii Okine Ablorh.
Now an accompanying affidavit filed by the “Enso Nyame Ye Chambers”, a Sunyani-based legal firm, and Counsel, explained the plaintiff mounted an action before the circuit court against DSP Gyasi who used to “harass, intimidate, bully my agents who operate from my self-acquired land always clad in his police uniform.”
“That unable to countenance the insubordination of the DSP Gyasi and his cohorts, I mounted the action against the said DSP Gyasi before the circuit court in which the matter traveled through a full trial and judgement was delivered,” it stated.
The affidavit said plaintiff later filed an “entry of judgment” and to “put DSP Gyasi and all those hiding behind to unleash violence, intimidation on my agents, privies, assigns, my counsel wrote a letter and notified the respondents”.
“Almost all the respondents were duly served with the letter by way of EMS,” it added, saying that notwithstanding, “the respondents have disregarded the judgment and have been consistently harassing, intimidating, bullying, arresting and detaining my agents who have gone onto my land which the honourable court has ruled in my favour.”
The affidavit explained “on February 27, 2023, one Kofi Peprah, Kwadwo Takyi and Kwame Nkrumah were sent to demarcate some lines on my land and in the process some of the respondents caused their arrests and detained them at the Municipal police cells, Sunyani overnight.”
“Some of the respondents always insist that the IGP has instructed them to defy all the court orders and thereby treated the court orders with disdain”, it said, adding “on the instructions of the IGP some of the respondents arrested and detained one Douglas Addo, who was asked to go and mould blocks on February 15, 2023.”
“The total sum of the respondents’ conducts is to challenge, deny, disrespect and disregard the judgment and willfully be treated with contempt and disdain,” it explained.
The affidavit stressed the continuous and incessant arrests, harassment, intimidation and detention of the agents of the applicants by the respondents, directly or indirectly and on their directives and orders were bent on ignoring the decision or judgment of the court, and to expose the administration of justice to public ridicule and contempt.
It, therefore, prayed the court to “crack the whip to put the fear of the law in the respondents so that the respondents do not seem to be above the law” and to further protect the sanctity of the judiciary and thereby enhance the public confidence in the judicial processes.
Former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has voiced his disapproval of parliament’s decision to remove the death penalty from the constitution, fearing it might lead to an increase in mob justice.
During an interview with the media on July 26, Boahen expressed support for mob attacks, questioning the idea of imprisoning murderers for life while considering their punishment, which is death, as a human rights issue.
He argued that the rights of the victims who lost their lives should also be respected.
Boahen firmly stood by his position, declaring that he would eliminate the abolition and reinstate capital punishment if he were to become president.
“What happens to the right of the person who was killed, doesn’t he/she also have the same right?”
“We have created an atmosphere of fear and panic for ourselves because we pardon and pamper murderers on human right grounds. I’m telling you, if I, Obiri Boahen became the president, you’ll see what would happen in this country. Enough of that ugly noise! Ghanaians are sick and tired of the panic,” he added.
He criticized the current system for granting too much leniency to murderers under the guise of human rights, creating an atmosphere of fear and panic among the people.
The lawyer contended that life imprisonment alone does not effectively deter crime and cautioned against the potential dangerous consequences of abolishing the death penalty.
He further criticized past presidents for not implementing capital punishment in the name of preserving human rights credentials, believing that this approach disregards the rights of the victims who suffered due to heinous crimes.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has been criticised for rating Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) above Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC).
According to General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen time has proven the former president wrong in his assertion and thus, he described Mr Mahama’s claims as “ridiculous and so childish”.
He noted that Mr Mahama’s problem with the EC has to do with the sacking of the former chairperson, Madam Charlotte Osei.
“On the very day Charlotte Osei was sacked as EC boss, he refused to have faith in the commission.”
“If it isn’t NDC that would direct our elections, he doesn’t have faith in it. He wants to say if it isn’t Charlotte Osei or Afari Gyan, then he considers all other persons to come from Satan”, he said in an interview on pro-NPP Wontumi Radio on Monday February 27, 2023.
Former President Mahama on the eve of Nigeria’s presidential elections held on Saturday, February 25, 2023, called out the EC led by Jean Adukwei Mensa for failing to inspire confidence.
According to him, the posture of the Electoral Commission unlike the INEC which has gained the confidence of Nigeria’s electoral stakeholders has rather been hostile towards his party, the National Democratic Congress.
“One thing that has struck me in my pre-election mission in Nigeria for the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) is the confidence all the candidates and parties have expressed in the Independent Electoral Commission.
“They all testify that INEC has listened and taken their concerns on board.
“Unfortunately, I can’t say same for my Electoral Commission (EC), which was once among the best election management agencies in the world.
“The hostility of the Chairperson of the EC and her other Commissioners to one political party is legendary. How I wish our own EC can inspire the same level of confidence in all its stakeholders,” Mr Mahama said.
Despite his wish, Mr Mahama said he shares no hope of the situation in Ghana getting any better.
“Regrettably, I am not hopeful this will happen when we have an EC that has blatantly spurned all efforts by the National Peace Council to host a meeting between the Commission and the two major political parties, the NDC and NPP,” the former president said.
Former deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has condemned NPP stalwart Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko over his recent comments to former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo after she joined some pensioners to picket government’s DDEP.
Obiri Boahen contends that everyone has different viewpoints on various subjects so it is incorrect for Gabby to criticize the former CJ for participating in the February 10 edition of picketing by pensioners against the government’s Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
Obiri Boahen added that remarks as the one Gabby made of the former CJ won’t benefit the party because they might anger the person involved, thus there is a need for the party to exercise extreme caution while making such comments.
Speaking in an interview with Okay FM, Nana Obiri Boahen said “the former Chief Justice is a human being, if she partakes in a demonstration, I don’t see the reason why people should insult her. “She’s a human being and everyone has different opinions. When the issue came up, you can’t blame the Minister of Finance and the government because they’ve made us understand that where things have gotten to, we’re in dire times so there’s the need for everyone’s help.”
He added “…now, you can’t also blame the Chief Justice and her pensioners also…because they have also invested their money and hope to enjoy the profits.
“The government is also saying because we’re in crisis they need to adjust things to make the economy better. The government hasn’t committed any crime and the pensioners who also went to do the picketing have not committed any crime.
“Because picketing is a form of democracy. There is nothing like pulling a gun, knife, or sword in picketing, they just want to express their displeasure.
“So, I don’t see the reason why someone should attack the former Chief Justice, I don’t understand. Because everyone is expressing his/her views so why do you attack her? I beg to differ I don’t agree with him (Gabby Otchere Darko).
“…she is just expressing her views, so we shouldn’t do that because if we do that it is not good. We should be careful with our communications,” he lamented.
It may be recalled that Sophia Akuffo, joined the retirees picketing the Ministry of Finance in Accra.
The pensioners have been picketing at the premises of the ministry since Monday, February 6, 2023, over the government’s plan to involve their bonds in the DDEP.
Sophia Akufo was captured in a front-seat position at the premises of the Ministry holding a wooden placard.
Her placard read: “We use our bond yields to pay our: rent, medical bills, electricity, and water bills.”
On the other hand, leading member of the New Patriotic Party () , Gabby Otchere-Darko, has stated that the gesture by the former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo to picket at the Finance Ministry together with pensioner bondholders was done in error.
According to him, the offer to self-exempt has been given to pensioners, therefore, there is no need to picket when they could just self-exempt.
In a series of tweets on February 12, 2023, he wrote: “The former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, may mean well but she erred big time in her basic appreciation of the issues. Rather than asking the Govt for exemption at this late hour, why did she simply not ‘exempt’ herself from exchanging her original bond for the new one!”
“Why picket over something you don’t like (the improved offer) when you have the right not to sign up? Sorry, but I struggle to get her emotional outburst over-exemption! I hope she won’t volunteer to picket tomorrow and on the same issues when the time to sign up has expired,” he added.
Former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, is predicting chaos ahead of Parliament’s first sitting this year. His prediction follows the reshuffle of NDC leadership in Parliament.
He said that the military and police must be deployed to Parliament on February 7, 2023, when the House resumes its sittings.
According to him, it is likely there will be chaos in the House because of the change in the leadership of the minority caucus.
Speaking in a Neat FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Obiri Boahen added that there might be chaos because some of the leaders who have changed have not indicated that they are stepping down and their supporters are running riot.
“… soldiers must be sent to Parliament when the House resumes on the 7th. The number of police and soldiers sent there should be like deployment for a war… Supporters of Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka are very adamant that they are still the leaders of the minority and are determined to cause trouble if there are attempts to replace them.
“Something is going to happen when parliament resumes on the 7th (of February). Because the supporters of Haruna Iddrisu will not agree for someone else to be in his chair and Ato Forson is also determined to take the position of majority leader.
“I not happy about this… but some African politicians learn history but don’t learn from the lessons of history. The Swedru declaration led to the NDC losing power and the NPP coming to power. And this reshuffle done by the NDC will either make or break them,” he said in Twi.
Meanwhile, the National Executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is expected to meet the party’s Members of Parliament (MPs) on the appointment of their new leadership, on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.
According to the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Kwetey, the executives will be meeting with the minority caucus to explain their decision, after which a confirmation of the new parliamentary leadership will be made.
The change in the leadership of the minority caucus of Parliament has led to some confusion in the NDC, with some members of the party, including some Members of Parliament, saying that the party’s parliamentarians should have been consulted before the move.
The NDC leadership has appointed the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, as the minority leader in the 8th Parliament of Ghana’s Fourth Republic. He replaced the MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu.
According to the NDC, Kofi Armah Buah, MP for Ellembele, will take over as the Deputy Minority Leader.
While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Whip.
Some MPs of the party have petitioned its National Executive Committee (NEC) to suspend the appointment of the new leadership of the party in Parliament.
The NDC MPs, including Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka (MP for Asawase), Dominic Ayine (MP for Bolgatanga East), and Cletus Avoka (MP for Zebilla), who are calling for the suspension, argue that the appointment was not made by any of the party’s decision-making structures but was imposed by just a few people.
Nana Obiri Boahen, the former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed his displeasure with President Akufo-Addo’s choice of Ken Ofori-Atta as caretaker Minister of Trade and Industry.
Nana Obiri Boahen asserted that the president erred in appointing Ken Ofori-Atta to the trade and industry ministry in place of Alan Kyerematen. He stated that while legally and constitutionally, the president’s choice was correct, it was wrong politically and morally.
Speaking in an interview on Wontumi TV, he added that it confuses him that the president’s advisors sat unconcerned for such a decision to be taken given that the finance minister was already experiencing backlash from a section of the public.
“With all due respect and with all humility to the president, that decision for the president to allow Ken Ofori Atta to take charge was wrong. Constitutionally the president was right, legally the president was right, but politically it was wrong and morally it was wrong. Constitutionally, if a cabinet minister is not around, a cabinet minister must replace him.
“Legally he is also right but politically it was dangerous and incorrect. That discretion was not well exercised. The minister of finance is facing backslash and his own MPs are calling for his sacking, so appointing such a person will cause confusion.
“Morally in terms of politics, it is sending a wrong signal, so I’m happy that he has been changed. But I’m surprised that the advisors of the president couldn’t prompt him,” he said.
He continued by expressing his happiness at Abu Jinapor’s appointment as the new caretaker minister at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Abu Jinapor has replaced Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who was given stewardship of the trades ministry a few days ago after the resignation of Alan Kyerematen.
A statement which was issued by the Director of Communication at the Office of the President, Eugene Arhin, indicated that the appointment of Abu Jinapor as caretaker trade minister will take effect from Monday, January 16, 2023.
The former Deputy National General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticized the decision of the government to fire the one-time parliamentary aspirant of the party for Kpone Katamanso, Hopeson Adorye.
According to Nana Obiri Boahen, the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of Hopeson Adorye do not augur well for the NPP and might lead to unnecessary divisions in the party.
Speaking in an Okay FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Obiri Boahen said that the issue with Hopeson Adorye could have been settled without him being fired.
“For me, honestly speaking it (the firing of Hopeson Adorye) is not the best. It can bring confusion to the party.
“You can call him (Hopeson Adorye) on the quiet and talk to him about where he has faulted and even put him on secondment at other agencies such as NADMO (National Disaster Management Organisation) or Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
“So, he will be working at NADMO and still be on the National Security payroll. He will be soliciting information and then he will be campaigning for Alan Kyerematen. We need to tread carefully,” he said in Twi.
Citing similar issues that happened in 2007, Obiri Boahen further suggested that the party deals meticulously with such matters to ensure that the party is not ultimately affected.
“In 2007, we saw this kind of division with members of the party claiming to be members of different factions in the NPP. And we forgot the common enemy and before we will realized it, we were in opposition,” he added.
Hopeson Adorye, who was previously the Deputy National Security Coordinator in Charge of Airports, announced on live radio in November that he had been fired from the National Security Secretariat.
He said during a discussion on Oman FM’s Boiling Point programme, on which he is a regular guest; that he had been fired purposefully because of his support for Alan Kyerematen.
Adorye is a vocal supporter of the Trade and Industry Minister in respect of the minister’s rumoured bid to lead the NPP as flagbearer when elections take place next year.
“God will cater for us, we will eat, uncle (referring to the show host), God has got us. How we toiled in opposition for Akufo-Addo to come to power, we will do same for Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen to come.
“I’m not a zombie, uncle, I was told that my support is not towards a particular camp so I should be dismissed, I have been dismissed. ‘Your appointment has been terminated with immediate effect.’ That is why I am stressing that God will cater for us, we will never die,” he stressed.
A leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Nana Obiri Boahen is wondering how Ghanaians will be able to enjoy the upcoming Christmas festive season amidst the current economic hardship.
In an interview on Okay FM’s morning show Ade Akye Abia, the former NPP Deputy General Secretary bemoaned the recent spike in prices of goods and services citing the current price of locally distilled gin, Akpeteshie as an example.
“I am not a person who likes to politicise issues but the bottom line is that prices of goods are shooting up and we are compelled to ask ourselves if we will be able to celebrate the Christmas. Do you know akpeteshie which used to be cheap is now selling at GH¢4 per tot? Now a full bottle of akpeteshie is going for GH¢25.
“It shows how prices of every item has shot up and it is very alarming. We need to accept the reality,” he added.
Despite the admission by Mr Obiri Boahen, the NPP stalwart expressed confidence that his party will maintain power in 2024 when Ghana goes to the polls.
Obiri Boahen who has openly endorsed Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to succeed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo noted that his preferred candidate will by all means win the party’s upcoming flagbearership race and go ahead to win the national elections despite the current state of the economy.
“But that notwithstanding my inner self tells me that Dr Bawumia will win,” he said.
Ghana in recent months has been plunged into harsh economic difficulty with a rise in fuel prices and daily rise in inflation.
Some analysts say the current situation has the potential to affect the chances of the ruling party in the 2024 elections.
However, elements within the NPP believe the party still stands a chance to maintain power.
In my candid opinion, former Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Freddie Blay’s law firm should not have accepted to defend accused persons in the ongoing illegal mining case pending before the Accra High Court, Mr Obiri Boahen, a former General Secretary of the NPP has said.
In a radio interview monitored by Graphic Online on Accra based Okay FM on Wednesday morning, Nana Obiri Boahen said Mr Blay’s firm should have allowed other lawyers to stand in for the accused persons.
On Tuesday in court, Lucy Ekeleba Blay, a private legal practitioner, told the court that she was holding brief for Mr Freddy Blay in the case of the four accomplices of En Huang, popularly known as Aisha Huang, who has been charged with the others for engaging illegal mining activities in Ghana.
The four accomplices are Gao Jin Cheng, Lu Qi Jun, Haibin Go and Zhang Zhipeng.
Mr Freddie Blay is the lead counsel for the firm in which Lucy Ekeleba Blay works.
Already, Mr Blay has clarified that he is not the one who is personally handling the case but confirms that it is the law firm he belongs to that is handling the case.
Former Deputy General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has said that the party remains popular despite the booing of President Akufo-Addo at the Global Citizen Festival at the Black Star Square on September 24.
He said the founding traditions of the party come second to none in placing Ghana on the path of prosperity.
According to him, only the NPP can steer Ghana to the ‘promised land.’
On the booing of President Akufo-Addo, he said it only goes to show that everyone has their highs and lows in life, stressing that life is a mixture of good and bad times.
“It demonstrates that for every human being, there must be ups and downs. In life you won’t always have it rosy at all times. These are issues you will encounter as a politician, as a human being.
“Does this show NPP is not popular? No. NPP is popular today, tomorrow and beyond. NPP and the UP tradition, no tradition is capable of moving Ghanaians to the promised land apart from this tradition,” Obiri Boahen said.
Economic conditions have been worsening under the NPP administration and government has partly blamed the situation on the adverse effect of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
While the economy has suffered downgrades from credit rating agencies such as S & P and Fitch, Ghana has initiated contacts with the International Monetary Funds hoping to secure a US$3 billion facility over a three-year period.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) believes the prevalent economic situation is the reason President Akufo-Addo was booed as a sign of frustration at the government.
Former Deputy General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen says his party’s directive that flagbearer hopefuls within the party cannot campaign is ‘misleading’.
According to him, aspirants are already campaigning despite the party’s many cautions to sanction any aspirant found guilty of an open campaign ahead of the primary.
“Let’s not be hypocrites, aspirants are already on the move on the ground,” he said.
Nana Obiri Boahen who was discussing an early primary for NPP flagbearer hopeful on NEAT FM’s morning show, ‘Ghana Montie’ said his party must volte-face its decision for an early contest.
The NPP, last year, issued a code of conduct barring its members from endorsing or campaigning for potential parliamentary or presidential candidates ahead of the opening of nominations.
As part of the code of conduct, the party said prospective candidates who condone any such barred activities will be held responsible.
A leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has expressed worry regarding the agitations that have characterized the internal elections of the party.
According to him, these agitations, if left unresolved, will lead the party into opposition just as what transpired in the 2008 elections.
The polling station elections of the NPP have been characterized by agitations regarding the process adopted by the leadership of the party.
For instance, some aggrieved NPP members in the Subin Constituency locked up the party office after being disqualified in the ongoing polling station elections.
They threatened to thwart the operations of the party in the constituency if their names were not restored in the album.
Nana Obiri Boahen explained in an interview with Eric Mawuena Egbeta on the mid-day news on 3FM Tuesday, March 8, that similar developments occurred in 2008 and eventually led the party into opposition after the elections that year.
“All of us are worried; we had 169 Members of Parliament, then the next three to four years it reduces to 137. It is a clear indication that we need to sit up.
“In 2008, I was a Minister of State at the Interior Ministry, and these agitations happened in 2008, some of us spoke vigorously against these things, people branded us that were were alarmists, but eventually, we lost, and we went into opposition. So some of us, having gone through such unpleasant events, whenever we are pouring out our complaints, people should allow us to pour out our complaints, and people should listen to us.
“Certainly, we need to be up and doing,†he said.
Deputy General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Nana Obiri Boahen has backed down on his decision to contest for his party’s General Secretary position.
Ahead of the party’s official declaration for campaigning, Nana Obiri Boahen served to notice he was going to challenge the current General Secretary, John Boadu for his post.
According to him, he has gathered enough experience having served two consecutive terms in his deputy role and thus saw it right to elevate to the main secretary of the party.
“I have expressed an intention and in the fullness of time when the ban has been lifted, I will contest for the position of the general secretary of the New Patriotic Party.
“I have been the general secretary for two terms, the first time in the history of our tradition that an individual has occupied that position for two terms and certainly, I am matured enough now to be the general secretary for the New patriotic party and certainly, I will contest for that position when the ban is lifted,†he emphatically in a Joynews interview earlier this year.
In the latest development, however, Nana Obiri Boahen has served notice he will no longer be vying for the General Secretary position when the party conducts its next internal election.
Speaking on Thursday, November 11, 2021, Obiri Boahen further stated that he will be moving on from contesting a party executive position when the NPP goes to the polls.
He went on to reveal that his next line of dedication will be geared towards the campaign of a flagbearer candidate, whose identity he failed to disclose.
“I will no longer contest but I am bringing someone to the presidency. I am beating my chest; I am going to make history in this country. I Obiri Boahen, I am going to make history in this country.
“The history is that I have been deputy general secretary for two terms and that has never happened in Ghana before. The next history for me is that I am not going back to the party headquarters because of a change in agenda. I am bringing someone as the flagbearer.
“We are definitely going for the primaries and from all indications, the person I am bringing is going to win and when he wins, it will be a history for our tradition,†he stated.
He went on to drop hints that the said candidate hails from the northern part of the country and is of Mamprusi ethnicity.
Meanwhile, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has been tipped as a likely replacement for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo when he exits office.
The Vice President who hails from the northern region is equally of Mamprusi origin however it is not known if he is the same person Nana Obiri Boahen has committed to campaign for.
